I'm making plans for hiking trips next summer. I've been backpacking for years and years, but I've almost never had to do any stream crossings. I know to undo the hip belt, so I can get out if I tumble in. And, I have my hiking poles to use for balance. I take my socks off, and the insoles out, and put them back in after the crossing. But, there are places I am hesitant to go because of stream crossings. Places that are an easy drive and most likely beautiful. I'm thinking of one trip in particular, where the trail led to a gushing stream. I looked upstream--and walked up a little ways--it didn't seem to get better. I looked downstream--and walked down a little ways--it also didn't seem to get better. I set up my tent and enjoyed where I was, but I've felt like a big chicken ever since. I watched a group of people cross, at the mouth of the stream, as it emptied into a little lake. I figured if I had tried to cross there, I'd end up hip deep in muck.
It's easy enough to cross when there are rocks that stick out of the water, and I just have to balance on them, but I think I'm afraid that if the stream is "mellow," and I cross, I'll end up in two feet of mud. That gushing stream, I could see a number of places to step, but not quite enough. There are places I'd like to camp in Yellowstone, the Beartooths, and the Bighorns, but the trailguides comment about stream crossings. How do you pick a safe spot to cross, where you don't end up sinking in the mud, or being hurtled downstream? Do you trust the place the trail goes into, and seems to come out of, the water? Thanks for any advice.
It's easy enough to cross when there are rocks that stick out of the water, and I just have to balance on them, but I think I'm afraid that if the stream is "mellow," and I cross, I'll end up in two feet of mud. That gushing stream, I could see a number of places to step, but not quite enough. There are places I'd like to camp in Yellowstone, the Beartooths, and the Bighorns, but the trailguides comment about stream crossings. How do you pick a safe spot to cross, where you don't end up sinking in the mud, or being hurtled downstream? Do you trust the place the trail goes into, and seems to come out of, the water? Thanks for any advice.